An Increasing Emphasis Upon English. It is encouraging to note the increasing emphasis that is being placed upon the necessity for at least a working knowledge of the English language. The time has passed when it will do to tell a young man "to use good English," and let it go at that, or when pedantic pedagogues can imprison thought in the mere technicalities of grammar.

Colleges are devoting more time to what is called business English, and some of the best books that have ever appeared upon the subject of applied language have appeared within the year. One of the most striking of these is "Business English-A Practice Book," by Rose Buhlig, of the Lake High School, Chicago, and published by D. C.

Heath & Co., Boston.

Eliza D. Keith

obeying the rules of spelling, punctuation and grammar.

How to do this, Miss Buhlig shows with more than a passing reference to the dictionary. Evidently she is not one of those educators who believe in "getting the meaning from the context." Her advice is to focus the attention upon each new word, then look it up in the dictionary to fix its spelling, pronunciation, and definition.

Emphasis is laid upon the importance of correct pronunciation, and a table of diacritical marks as given in Webster's International Dictionary forms part of an early chapter. A chapter is given to word analysis, the importance of this branch of English being fully appreciated. In fact, the first section of Buhlig's "Business English" covers the work which should be given in the grammar schools. The third section deals with certain types of business, and supplies live material for the pupil's use.

The Technique of the Mystery Story.

Here is a book by Carolyn Wells, with an introduction by J. Berg Esenwein, and pubintroduction by J. Berg Esenwein, and published by the Home Correspondence School of Springfield, Mass. (by mail $1.62), that will both enlighten and delight the lover of tales of mystery and will prove an invaluable assistant to the student of literature.

Just note what are considered in this book. The Eternal Cinous, early riddles; the passion for solving mysteries; the Literature of Mystery; the rightful place of the mystery story in fiction; the History of Mystery, ancient mystery tales; ghost stories; riddle stories; the nature of the riddle story and its types; detective stories; the detective; devious devices, footprints and finger prints. Without the interruption of quotation Murder in general-the mysterious disapmarks let us take the thoughts wherever we pearance. Persons in the story. The hanfind them. First, the author's aim has been dling of the crime; the motive; the evidence; to teach the art of using words in such a structure; plots; the use of coincidences; way as to make people think and act. To women as writers of detective stories; final use our language effectively, it is necessary advices. These are just a few of the topics to have an understanding of its elements. carefully considered by Carolyn Wells, who Much space is therefore devoted to wordis herself no mean exponent of the art. This study and English grammar. The people book, The people book, "The Technique of the Mystery engaged in business are, generally speaking, Story," is charming in its style, in its mate"The Technique of the Mystery woefully weak in the grammar of our lanrial, in its analysis of famous stories, and in guage. the thoughts it suggests. I can only say that I sat up till after one o'clock reading it, and when any book can so hold the attention of a veteran reader like myself, and can keep awake till the wee sma' hours a tired school teacher who should have been asleep hours earlier, that book must be something at least out of the ordinary. It seems as if stories, dramas and photo-plays would be better understood, appreciated and enjoyed by one after reading this book, and that lawyers, detectives, as well as authors and students of literature could be profited by its perusal.

Business English is the expression of our commercial life in English and is not synonymous with letter-writing. First there is oral expression, important because so many of our business transactions are conducted personally. Salesmen, both stationary and traveling, earn their salaries by talking convincingly of the goods they have to sell. Complaints are adjusted, difficulties are disentangled in personal interviews, great affairs are personally discussed; oral English is essential in business life.

Second, written expression is an important part of business English, and takes account of the writing of advertisements, circulars, booklets, prospectuses, as well as let

Oral English is fundamental in the preparation of these.

Rose Buhlig has clearly shown how much easier it is to talk well, convincingly, persuadingly, than it is to write well. In writing one is confronted with the necessity of putting the best thoughts into the clearest, most concise language, at the same time

"A Brief English Grammar."

Is the title of a little book-not fifty pages all told, published by the A. S. Barnes Co. of New York, and written by H. S. Alshouse, Principal of Boswell, Pa. High School, with the assistance of Minnie R. Root, Jamaica High School, New York City. It is a neat little book, both typographically, and as to size and binding, all for a trifling sum, twenty-five cents, was it not? The authors

modestly state that they have put out this little book in the hope that it will fill a want which many teachers and students have felt for a brief review of grammar that shall present in small compass the essential elements of English construction. The terminology is in accordance with the recommendations of the New York City Association of High School Teachers of English. An abundance of drill material and exercises for

practice have been inserted. "A Brief English Grammar" has everything in it that a language teacher needs to know, should teach and ought to have at the tip of her tongue. The book is guiltless of the padding of the usual school text; a concise definition followed by illuminative examples is its chief feature, and not the least of its attractions is the summary of definitions to be found at the close of the book.

Boards of Education could not do better than to place a copy of this tiny text upon the desk of every school teacher. The teaching of English should not be confined to one special period, nor to a special teacher. Every study, every lesson, should be subjected to a quick, grammatical analysis, the skeletonizing of the statement so as to ob

tain the main idea. It is a mistake to use grammar only as a text book exercise. The value of all principles lie in their appreciation.

Literary Ignorance Among Would-Be Journalists.

The annual report of the president of Columbia College has a section dealing with revelations of ignorance among those specializing in training for journalism.

And this ignorance is among undergraduates, and graduate students of Columbia University itself. University itself. These embryo journalists have but meagre knowledge of modern languages, other than English, although for years these students have been studying modern languages in the secondary schools and in colleges. Allusions to Biblical characters, say Samson or Judas or Joan of Arc, or to characters of fiction like Don Quixote, or Mr. Pickwick, are not understood when met in the assigned work of the school of journalism.

In the opinion of many, mastery of the art of illusion and quotation counts for naught. They say, "Better be contemporaneous; adjust style and thought to readers or hearers who have been educated only vocationally, and chiefly in applied science, who distrust all play of the imagination and whose main reading is informational in type and ephemeral in form.

A Return to Cultural Ideals.

On the other hand, at Amherst College the authorities have decided to return to the older American cultural ideas of education, which included knowledge of the Bible, and of history, ancient and modern, and also of good literature.

Why Literature Suffers.

To quote from an Eastern exchange:

"Literature as well as ethics, suffers from popular ignorance of the Bible, and nations that have given to the people widest circulation and freest use of inspirational literature by way of church and school, have in turn the most constant supply of great literary artists, whatever may be their medium."

In spite of our long-anticipated trip being cut short by a very unexpected war, and our being compelled to remain in Berlin for seventeen days, where we heard the tramp, tramp, tramp of soldiers night and day, the impression of some of the pleasanter experiences have remianed with me and are the subject of this article.

Though we as a nation have made such progress along certain lines, there are many things which we should do well to learn from the older nations. The most noticeable of these is courtesy to strangers.

Wherever we turned in Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany or Holland we were treated with the utmost kindness and courtesy. On entering shop, gallery, museum or hotel, we were greeted with "Bon Jour," and on leaving with "Au Revoir," or their equivalents. If we needed direction it was not too much trouble for the citizens addressed by us to go blocks to show us our way, or to find some one who could understand English or our poor French or Ger

man.

While in Vienna we learned that on account of the war, the Emperor Franz Josef was to return from his country home to his summer palace in Vienna. We wished to see him as well as the crowd of citizens

who would be assembled for miles along the avenue leading to the palace. We asked the porter of our hotel to get us a "taxi"

and instruct the chauffeur that we wanted

to see the Emperor. The chauffeur spoke not a word of English, and not one of the six of us spoke a word of German, but pantomime is a splendid medium of communication. Within three-quarters of a mile of the avenue we were stopped and compelled to walk the remainder of the distance. The crowd was massed on each side of the entrance to the palace grounds, and on each side of the avenue, and our chances for seeing seemed very slim; but our chauffeur spoke to a mounted guard and led us through a crowd in which no one dared to push or shove. To each guard he spoke and led us on until we were in the front row, while he had to stand back with the people on the edge of the sidewalk. Of course, our view was excellent, and I have never seen such an orderly crowd. The guards gave their orders in a very quiet tone, and there was no pushing and no rope was necessary to keep the spectators in their places. But our curiosity concerning the magic words used to get us such a position was not to be satisfied until we reached our hotel where our porter could be interpreter. Then in a very modest matter-of-fact manner,

Our

chauffeur said to our porter that he had told the guards that were six American ladies who had come specially to see the Emperor.

Neither in large cities nor in small towns did we see idlers standing on corners or in front of cigar stands or saloons, staring and commenting about passers-by.

Courtesy is not reserved for strangers only, but is also extended to each other.

SECRETARY

ALICE ROSE POWER, 324 Phelan Bldg., San Francisco. TREASURER

ZANNETTE W. POTTER,
1415 Grove St., Oakland.

The men raise their hats and bow very graciously to each other as well as to the ladies, while the pretty custom of raising a lady's hand to his lips on parting is still the privilege of the gentleman.

So much has been said about the strenuous life of the Americans, but we cannot

fully appreciate the truth of the epithet, until we have had glimpses of the leisurely enjoyment of the people of Europe. How many of our leading citizens would think of taking a couple of hours from business in the late afternoon to visit with their friends while promenading the streets or enjoying

an ice cream soda or cup of coffee. Yet this is exactly what we witnessed every day. The many cafes were crowded from four until seven with men and women, enjoying light refreshments without the meaning glances of a waiter, though they lingered an hour or so over a cup of coffee or glass of beer. Another very pleasing feature about these cafes is the entire absence of flies, although they are wide open and in many places the tables and chairs are on the sidewalks and even in the squares.

Perhaps this hour of relaxation enables them to work better, for all work is well

done, and every duty is carefully performed.

leries crowded with the working class Then on Sundays we found the art galmostly, even the poorest of whom is permitted to enjoy the great masters free on Sunday. We saw many young boys and girls visiting these galleries where they were becoming acquainted with the best in art.

There is just one more observation of which I must speak. We have heard much the last few years about the "Conservation of resources." Through necessity the people of Europe have certainly gotten conservation down to a fine point. If a tree is cut down, one or two must be planted in its place and not the smallest twig of the hewn tree is wasted. These twigs, which we usually burn in a brush pile, in the street to get rid of, are made into brooms with which the streets are cleaned.

The use made of the streams and all bodies of water is wonderful. While the small mountain streams as well as the large rivers have their banks walled with rocks and cement to keep the water from changing its course or washing away treasured soil or road.

Whatever is built is built for centuries, and we felt that the skill in road building and other construction work of the old Romans had certainly been handed down with their empire. From Sorrento to Amal.i we rode for twenty miles over a magnificent road that was originally constructed by the Caesars. There is no finer piece of road anywhere and the scenery is not to be surpassed.

In spite of the lack of some of these virtues, we were glad to reach beloved California, God's country, of which we can justly

Down south our sister city boasts a remarkable organization, "The Los Angeles City Teachers' Club," one whose tremendous solidarity has worked wonders in gaining recognition of the grade teachers and their needs and improving conditions generally. Some day we hope to tell the story of its organization. Meanwhile we content ourselves with quoting from its live "BulleThe Western Journal of Education is to tin" something commendatory of ourselves: be congratulated for having a department so ably conducted as that of the State Federation of School Women's Clubs," and extending to the members of our State Federakin spirit to that written by the editor of ation a most hearty New Year's greeting in "The Bulletin" to the twelve or thirteen hundred members of the Los Angeles City Teachers' Club which is so fine that we give it herewith:

"We greet you heartily, dear friends, at the beginning of another year.

"There is a pleasant sense of newness and freshness about writing 1915 in the date line that reminds us of the enthusiasm with which we used to begin a new copy book when we went to school. How fresh and clean the pages looked! And how willing we were to lay aside the old book with its feeling a little that way about the new year blots and unsightly places! We cannot help and the old. and the old. We know that in reality time. is continuous, that life is really all in one piece, but it helps to mark it off into periods -to feel that we have done with one part, and may start on a part that is fresh and new. Should we not deal with the old year's blots and blemishes as we did with those in the old note book, which were forgotten when it was discarded? Let us not hamper ourselves with our past this year, but face the future with the fresh enthusiasm of children. Let us renew our youth. The Fountain of Youth was not a myth, but the mistake was to look for it in the physical world instead of in the spiritual world. There is a fountain of living water of which we may drink daily "without money and without price."

In the summer of 1914 began the construction of the Schwabacher-Frey Stationery Company's building facing one entrance on Market street and another on Second street. This building was constructed for the purpose of becoming the home of publishers and dealers in school supplies, and is now occupying such firms as the Pacific Coast Branch of Ginn and Company, the Pacific Coast branch of Milton Bradley Company, and the Schwabacher-Frey Stationery Com

pany.

All of these firms engaged in the school supply trade, and publishing business, have collected under one roof, in order to facilitate the shipping of orders from a well located center and to accomplish it with less labor and expense, and with a saving of considerable time. To the rural school this means a saving in the expense of shipping, and consequently lower prices in school materials. Also it saves no small amount of labor to the teacher or school official who personally comes to San Francisco to purchase the supplies for his or her school, and finds everything from a pen to a high school or elementary text book in the same building. To facilitate and render less expensive the pursuits of commerce is after all the first aim of our commercial propaganda.

The Schwabacher-Frey Company, who built the building, because its expanding business required more room, is the successor to the old firm of Le Count Bros., organized in the early fifties, and who continued to do a stationery business in San Francisco until 1905, when the present firm of Schwabacher-Frey Stationery Company became their successor. The fire of 1906 did damage to this firm as it did to nearly every other, but the check was momentary only, and when normal conditions were restored, the firm resumed its business in greater proportions and with greater improvements.

Under their present conditions, and with a stock and facilities commensurate, they will make special efforts to be the leaders in the school stationery business of this State and Nevada. In this they may very likely succeed, when the fact is taken into proper consideration that in 1914 they secured under competitive bids, about 90 per cent of the contracts to furnish stationery_supplies to the schools of San Francisco. They are the agents for the Rotary Neostyle, a machine for duplicating purposes used extensively in the public schools, and a large and complete line of school stationery supplies bring them into the foreground as competitors for the State's school stationery busi

ness.

Upon a mere request from teachers or school officials they will gladly furnish samples and submit prices of any supplies and back it with the guarantee of their excellent business record.

Milton Bradley Company.

Upon the fourth floor of this building is the Pacific Coast Branch of Milton Bradley Company, whose enormous increase in business during the last three or four years forced them to take up the larger and more commodious space of this new building. Here, besides the added facilities for handling a greater amount of business, will be provided certain conveniences for the visiting teachers or school officials who come here to transact business for their schools,

in the shape of a rest room with a quiet home atmosphere, and the conveniences that tend to make such a place attractive.

When the Milton Bradley Company, about fifteen years ago, first located its office on the Pacific Coast in small quarters at 122 McAllister street, the kindergartens of the State, whose needs they supply, were chiefly confined to Southern California, with only a few scattered in other parts of the State and some points of the Pacific Coast. But kindergartens have grown rapidly the past few years all through the State of California, in the Bay region, in Southern Cali

in any town upon the petition of twenty-five signatures.

The Milton Bradley Company of Springfield manufacture in their own factory, all of the articles they sell and which the kindergartens need. A great amount of material required from the concern consists of industrial handwork, water colors and crayons, and for the manufacture of the latter a considerable amount of machinery was installed last year in the company's plant at Springfield, so that now they surpass in supplies of this nature.

Their supplies, however, while chiefly for kindergarten purposes, run from that to high school requirements, and the whole stock is here assembled under one roof, to be for

warded as quickly as the order is received. Express, freight and the parcel post are the shipping facilities at their disposal, and room to carry an enormous stock is a great advantage to give efficient service to the schools. Ginn and Company.

On the top floor Ginn and Company-the Boston publishers of school and college textbooks-will be found. Here they have their chief Pacific Coast depository under the management of Selden C. Smith, who came to the Coast as an agent for his company seventeen years ago and was taken into the firm and made Pacific Coast manager in 1909.

All of the firm's business from Alaska to San Diego including Nevada on the east and the Hawaiian Islands on the west is looked after from this office. Two well-known ex-members of the California teaching force are now at work for this company, Harry Linscott being their Southern California representative, while A. E. Shumate represents them in the Northwest. Mr. F. A. Rice, a Cornell graduate, who made his debut as a teacher of history in the the Everett, Washington High School, visits the California schools north of the Tehachapi. publication of books for the grades none of Because of the California system of State the large publishers except Ginn and Company have deemed it advisable to open stores of their own in California as they have done in Boston, New York, Chicago and other Eastern distributing centers.

fornia, as well as in other districts of the

Pacific Coast. Subsequently the company took up quarters at 717 Market street to handle its increased business. The fire of 1906 was only a temporary interruption, and quarters were provided at Grove street in order to continue uninterruptedly to fill the demands of the kindergartens along the Pacific Coast. Subsequently 575 Market street became the home of the Pacific Coast branch of the Company until January 1st of this

year.

The large increase of the Company's business under the management of L. Van Nostrand during the last few years was the cause of the last removal, and responsible for the taking of an entire floor in the spacious building of the Schwabacher-Frey Stationery Company. The need of better shipping facilities alone made the step imperative, as well as a larger stock room, in order to handle the increased business and take into due consideration the outlook for the coming year. Recent legislative enactment

In January, 1906-three months before the San Francisco fire-Ginn and Company found their business even in California of such proportions as to warrant their cutting away from the depository with which they had been connected for a quarter century and in order to give better service to the high and private schools opened a store of their own at 717 Market street. Although the results of the fire were rather discouraging the company pocketed its loss of a $75,000.00 stock and moved to Oakland for a year returning to their former quarters at 717 Market street when the building had been reconstructed. Here they remained until the further growth of the business de

manded more room and caused them to take a ten-year lease of the entire fifth floor of this building where they are now located.

No one can walk through their commodious stock rooms and see the large stock of books carried to meet the needs of the Pacific Coast schools without being impressed with the very evident fact that there is still some business for the independent publishing house which in the early days refused to become a part of the school book trust and now refuses to lease its plates to the State Printing Office at Sacramento, believing that either act would in the end lower the standard of their work as publishers and educators. Furthermore, it is evident to one walking by bin after bin and stack after stack of books in this establishment that service is the watchword of this concern and that when a school up in Modoc county wants a copy of one of the many Ginn primers or when the city of Los Angeles orders ten thousand music books, neither are likely to be annoyed by a return post card saying

"the books wanted are not to be found in the city but will be ordered from the East."

The Panama Canal is a factor that has done a great deal in building up business for these firms, by a cut in freight rates amounting to approximately one-third. Such cut in expense and increase in the number of schools and attendance, have placed all California schools and dealers in a position to receive from the Eastern publishing houses the discounts prevailing in the East, amounting to 20 per cent of the list price instead of a discount of 10 per cent as formerly given. This enables the California children to get their books at the publishers' list price rather than at an advance of 10 per cent as had been charged in California for years past.

It is the hope of the occupants of this building that, during the Exposition year especially, all of their friends and correspondents will make this building their headquarters, leave packages here, have mail addressed here, and when tired take advantage of the rest rooms which will be provided.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES Catalogue mailed

free to Teachers. Speakers, Recitations, Dialogues, Plays, Marches, Drills, Exercises, Celebrations, Entertainments, Games, Songs, Teachers' Books and Dictionaries. Reward and Gift Cards, Drawing, Sewing, Number, Reading, Alphabet and Busy-work Cards, Reports, Records, Certificates, Diplomas, Drawing Stencils, Blackboard Stencils, Colored Pegs, Sticks, Beads, Papers, Stars, Festooning, Drapery, Flags, Raffia, Sewing, Silkette, Needles, Scissors, Blackboards, Erasers, Crayons, Maps, Globes, all School Goods.

Address to A. J. FOUCH & CO., Warren, Pa.

Sweet Pea Correlations

Several years ago, correlation was very much in favor in the educational world. In that early time, there was an abundance of enthusiasm but very little carefully wrought out practical work. A lesson in artihmetic was a lesson in language, in reading, in spelling, in writing and sometimes it even invaded the domain of history. The unskilled teacher became lost in a labyrinth of possibilities and sometimes never arrived at the subject of arithmetic until the recitation time had passed.

And so it came that correlation fell into great disfavor and teachers were admonished to stick to their subjects. While correlation had failed in practice, there remained those who saw its great possibilities and maintained that the principle was good. Colonel Parker, ahead of his time as usual, stood by the principle of correlation and did a good work in practically and successful demonstrating its value in his own school. It was very largely due to his influence that the idea took root in Chicago. President Harper of Chicago University said that by applying the principle of correlation in the high school and university, two years of the student's time might be saved.

The principle of correlation is now understood as never before and its practice is based on well wrought out experimental work. It is a part of the best educational, practice of the time and is still destined for larger more vital interpretations.

The newer subjects of the curriculum are often interpreted in terms of the older subjects. The corn clubs of the Middle West are first of all agriculture in a practical form. But a study of corn touches nearly every subject in the curriculum.

Throughout the great state of California. sweet pea clubs have been formed and sweet pea contests held. The grain of mustard seed planted by Mrs. Stebbins while at the University of California has grown into a mighty tree and the end is not yet. This year, there will be a Children's Sweet Pea contest on the Exposition grounds, May 22. We are confident that there will be not less than a thousand entries, possibly a great many more. The sweet pea clubs have taught practical horticulture to the community and the contests have driven the lessons home. In the opinion of the present scribe, it is now time for the sweet pea to enter the course of study and be interpreted in terms. of other subjects.

We may get some botany lessons from the sweet pea both systematic and economic. This beautiful and fragrant flower is a member of a large and valuable family of plants the Leguininosae. Many members of this family are nitrogen gatherers. That is the bacteria that work on their roots have the power of fixing free nitrogen from the air.

In these days, the serviceable nitrogen gatherers are the handmaidens of scientific agriculture. The clovers, alfalfa and the soy bean build up the worn out soils. These plants are close relatives of the sweet pea so you can see that the family connections are decidedly good.

The history of the Spencer sweet pea is an illustration of one of the laws of Mendel. The greatest living exponent of Mendelism is Prof. De Vries of Holland, who spent a summer at the University of California. The Spencer sweet peas are about ten years old. They came in as a variation, were fixed

through selection and have been developed by cross fertilization and selection.

In 1901, Mr. Silas Cole, the Scotch gardener in the employ of the Earl of Spencer noticed that there was one spike of flowers on the prima donna sweet pea that had fluted edges. He saved two pods of seed from the wavy edged flowers. The next year he planted these seeds. Part of the seed came true to the new wavy edged flower and part reverted to the old hooded type. Again he saved the seed from the waved-edged flowers and planted it. More of the seed came true this time, but some of it reverted to the hooded type. A third time he saved seed from the new type of flowers and planted it. This time all the seed came true. The type was fixed. This fixing of a type by selection is one of the laws of Mendel.

The Spencer type of sweet pea appeared in three different parts of England at about the same time and in every case the ancestor of the Spencer variety was the prima donna. The Earl of Spencer's garden is in Althorp in the midland counties of England in Northampton. The other gardens were in Somersetshire and in Cambridgeshire.

Mr. Cole sold the seed to Mr. Sydenham, a dealer in England. He sent the seed to California and it was due to the possibilities of sweet pea culture here that the Spencer sweet pea seed was put on the market in a short time. California is the seed granary for the world and the world depends on California for its sweet pea seed.

The travels of the sweet pea would make a vital and instructive lesson in geography. But in following out the wanderings of this queen of annuals we might go back to Sicily where the first sweet peas were discovered. Father Franciscus Cupani, a devout Italian monk and an enthusiastic botanist as well, sent some sweet pea seed to a brother monk in England in the year 1699.

At this time Peter the Great of Russia was making a study of foreign nations, William and Mary had come to rule in England, Louis XIV in France was coming to the end of a reign of ruin and magnificence, and the world in general was moving forward. Many valuable correlations might be made and I shall do my readers the compliment of be